Talkline with Hoppy Kercheval  Watch |  Listen

Fourth person indicted in shooting death of WVU student

CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. — A fourth person has been indicted in connection with last summer’s shooting death of a former WVU student during an alleged drug deal on a public basketball court in Charles Town.

Braden Fitzgerald, 17, faces murder and other charges stemming from the July 19, 2016, death of Ryan Mumaw, 21, of Charles Town. The shooting took place in the
Tuscawilla Hills subdivision.

Ryan Mumaw was a junior at WVU when he was killed.

Fitzgerald’s three co-defendants, Rakeem Newman, 21, and Malakye Boyd, 18, both of Charles Town, and Tayjuhn Coble, 19, of Ranson were indicted by a grand jury meeting in January on the same charges.

Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney Matt Harvey said although charges against Fitzgerald came later than his co-defendants they still hope to try the defendants simultaneously.

“The three that were already indicted have the same dates set for trial,” according to Harvey. “We’re going to ask that Mr. Fitzgerald gets his trial date to be set at the same time.”

Harvey said Fitzgerald could ask to be tried separately.

“They can ask that it be severed from the other defendants, and that would have to be argued at a later time.”

There is a pretrial hearing scheduled in the case for May 22.

The defendants allegedly arranged to meet Mumaw on the basketball court to buy a pound of marijuana for $3,200.

According to court records, their faces were covered and they allegedly planned on robbing him.

Mumaw was a junior business major at WVU at the time of his death.





More

News
Governor signs bill phasing out state taxes on Social Security and receives praise
The phase-out would mean a 35% cut retroactive to Jan. 1, 2024; 65% in 2025 and 100% in 2026.
March 28, 2024 - 11:46 am
News
West Virginia Parkways Authority prepares for Easter travelers on the Turnpike
More than 500,000 transactions are projected at the West Virginia Turnpike through Monday.
March 28, 2024 - 11:30 am
News
Governor vetoes vaccination exemption bill, and now that debate is primed to get even bigger
House Bill 5105 would have removed vaccination requirements for students in virtual public schools, and it also would have allowed private and parochial schools to set their own standards.
March 28, 2024 - 11:14 am
News
Lottery reports $50,000 Powerball ticket sold in Charleston
Four numbers and Power Ball matched.
March 28, 2024 - 10:24 am